Busy caregivers find they often forget about their own needs and desires as they spend many hours with their loved one. While their focus is on caring for someone else, their own needs are neglected to the point where their own physical health is jeopardized. Numerousstudies have shown that care giving can bring about illness and premature aging. So, how do you know if you are physically suffering from caregiver stress?
Here are a few of the most common physical symptoms of caregiver stress:
- Headaches
- Muscle tension, especially neck, shoulders, and back pain
- Sleep disruption
- Digestive problems including heartburn, constipation, or diarrhea
- Weight gain or loss beyond what is typical fluctuation
- Fatigue beyond normal tiredness
- Hair loss
- Chest pain
- High blood pressure or other heart problems
- Jaw pain from tension
- Weak immune system
- Lack of sexual desire
These symptoms are due to stress, although individually they could be caused by other medical ailments. However, as a caregiver experiencing the stress of taking care of someone else, finding you are suffering from one or more of the above symptoms should prompt you to go to your health care provider as soon as possible.
Have a complete physical exam
You should have a complete physical and any other testing your health care provider suggests. As we have said before, if you are not healthy yourself, it is much more difficult to care for someone else. Also, you do not want to ruin your own health while you are caring for someone else.
When they are at the end of their life, you still need to move into the future with your own life. It is never worth losing your health while you are caring for someone else. It is not fair to you, nor is it fair to them. Keep yourself as healthy and stress-free as possible for the both of you.
Caregivers cannot adequately care for others when they do not take care of themselves.
I realize that sounds harsh, but you cannot take care of someone else if you are ill or unhealthy. Next thing you know, instead of living a fulfilling life, you will be the one being cared for by someone else. It turns into a never-ending cycle within families. Someone burns out and others must step in to help them out.
Keep an eye on the check list above. If you see that you or your loved ones caregiver is burning out, seek help as soon as possible. Caregivers, watch for your own physical signs of stress before it is too late. It is better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to your health.
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